Airship.



-DE YBARRONDO.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED J'AN.11, 1910.

Patented Apr.'2, 1 912.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET l.

v. 0'. DEMYB'ARRO'NDO,

Patented Apr. 2, 1912. I

3 SHEETSSHBBT 2.

55 am pm 4 v. 0 DE YBARRONDO.

AIRSHIP. V APPLLOATIQN FILED JAN.11,191 0.

PatentedApi'. 2, 1912.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT C.

DE YBARBONDO, or LOS enemas, CALIFORNIA.

AIRSHIP.

' T all whom lt-may concern:

ing. at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new aiid useful Improvements in- Airships,jof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to airships, and more particularly to hem-'ier-than air dirigible airships; and it" has for its object to provide improvements in vehicles or apparatus of the character stated which will be superior in point of degree and facility of control, positiveness in operation, rate of speed .in travel, stability, lightness and rigidit-yjof plane or frame construction; as well as superior in general efficiency, ser: viceability, and adaptability to varying conditions incident to use and service.

VVi-th the above and other objects in use, the invention consists in the novel provision, construction, formation, combination, association andrelative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter de scribed, shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings :'Figure 1 is a top plan View of an airship constructed in accord ance with 'the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly inlongitudinal' section for clearness of "illustration; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken upon the line 3.3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse secdesignated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, the improved airship showntherein is of the heavier-than-a'ir' type of dirigible airships, and is further essentially of the monoplane type, having a main plane A- from which is suspended a'deck B upon which the operator iscarried The main plane A with the deck B may be considered together to. comprise the body of the airship which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Application filed January 11,1910. Serial No. 537,546.

provided at the forward end with propelling means 0 and at the rearward end with steeringmeans D. Thepropelling means are operated by a motor or motive means E mounted upon the body or fran1e ofthe airship.

0 designates controlling means for the propelling means C; and (i designates controlling means for the steering means D.

F and G designate respectively supple mental planes disposed at opposite sides of the main plane A and of the medial longitudinal plane of the airship body or frame; \and f and g designate respectively controlling means for the supplemental planes F and G.

H designates a fixed tin or vane which projects upwardly from the airship frame or body.

K and L designate respectively a forward and rearward pair or set of adjustable wheeled supports the movement of.each of which pairs or sets is opposedby tension means/ and 1 respectively.

m designates controlling means for the rearward pair or set of wheeled supports L; and n designates controlling means for the wheels of the rearward pair or set of.

wheeled supports L.

P designates what will be herein termed as aerial brake means, the same acting variably to check or oppose forward or rearward movement of theairship; and 77 designal central portion 6 laterally of which are arranged upwardly diverging or slanting side portions 7 which are of the greatest width in a transverse plane of the main plane which is slightly forward of the medial center of the main plane; said side portions at the widest portions thereof being provided with lateral extensions 8'and" 9 respectively which increase in widthtoward their outer edges and with which the supplemental planes F and G are respec- :tively connected; The main plane/A, 1n-

elusive of its central portion 6, its side portions 7 and its lateral extenslons 8 and 9, 1s composed of or comprises suitable frame 'members 10, both longitudinal and transverse, and preferably. tubular in form, over which is stretched a covering or wall 11 of suitable light and flexible material, preferably textile. The supplemental .planes F and G are preferably of organization similar to that of the main plane. The deck B is suspended from members of the main frame 10 by supplemental frame members 12, both vertical, transverse and longitudinal; and other supplemental frame me1rbers 12 are provided for rigidly uniting the deck Band the plane A, together with the propelling means C, the steering means I), the sets of wheeled supports K and L, and the other members and elements of the apparatus; and further particular reference to the ramified parts of the-main frame, which includes the deck and the main plane, will not hereinafter be made.

The two extreme margins of the side portions 7 are connected by a truss or brace.

13, which may consist of a cable and turnbuckle, or be of any other particular form; and the same serves to strengthen the main frame transversely and tomaintainthe general formation of the main plane as above set forth, which involves an upward slanting of the side portions 7 thereof; said side portions projecting oppositely from the con tral portion 6 in simulation of the positions assumed by the wings of a bird in soaring or sailing.

The supplemental planes F and G are respectively pivotally mounted upon or con nected with the lateral extensions 8 and 9 of the main plane,. at the forward edge portions thereof, as at 14 and 15 respectively, and are preferably each rectangular and elongated in form; and extensions of their longer sides would cut the median longitudinal plane of the main frame at angles of less than ninety degrees.

The controlling means f and g for the supplemental planes F and G are of the same construction in each instance: and a description of one of the same will apply equally to both. The shaft 14 or 15 by means of which each of the supplemental planes is pivotally supported is provided at its inner end with an angularly directed arm 16. Mounted in suitable bearings upon ,the main plane A and one of the side portoothed sector 23 mountedupon a frame member 10. Pivotal. movement of either of the.lever arms 21 serves to increaseor diminish the deflection of the respective supplemental planes F or G from the geometrical plane of the respective lateral extensions 8 or 9 of the main plane A.

The fixed .vane or fin H consists of a tri- "angular plate 24 mounted upon a frame member 10 of the main plane A adjacent to the rearward end thereof, and maintained in position of rectangular projection from the longitudinal central portion 6 of the main plane, in the median geometrical longitudinal plane thereof, by suitable lateral braces 25. Theapex portion of the plate 24 is di reeted away from or upwardly from the longitlidinal central portion 6 of the main plane. I

The steering means D, which act. as a rudder or deflector for the airship as an entirety, comprises a plane 26 which is quadrilateral in form, the longest side or edge thereof being disposed farthest from the main plane A; and the smallest edge thererof being substantially equivalent in extension to the transverse dimension of the longitudinal central portion 6 of the main plane; said plane 26 normally extending in the geometrical plane ofsaid longitudinal central portion 6 and being capable of deflection from said plane by the controlling means (l. The formation of said plane 26 is substantially the same as that of themain plane A. The inner edge portion of said plane 26 is provided with a shaft or arbor 27 extending transversely of the plane and provided slightly beyond its center with a sector'gcar 28. The ends of the shaft 27 are journaled in the spaced arms of a yoke 29 which is bored centrally to receive a sleeve 30 which is fixed thereto by screws or other holding devices 31, as clearly shown in Fig. The sleeve'30 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 32, which with the other parts now being described is included within .the controlling means (I, carried by the rearward frame member 10 of the main plane A. A shaft 33 is rotatably mounted in the sleeve 30, and carries at its rearward end a bevel gear 34'which meshes with the sector gear 28. The sleeve 30 and its rotatable shaft 33 extend forwardly from the bearing 32 through a similar'bearing and terminate respectively forwardly and rearwardly of a bearing 35 arranged substantially centrally of; and the bearing carries a doubly toothed sector 36 with which respectively (co-act dogs 37 respectively carried by lever arms 38 and 39 which are respectively fixed upon the shaft 33 and the sleeve 30. Oscillation of .the lever arms 38 and 3!) respectively will cause deflection of the plane 26 of the main frame and the main plane therefrom the geometrical plane of thecentral portion 6 of the main plane A, by elevation cause dipping or rising of the forward end of the airship; and deflection. oi the other form. when combined with deflection of the nature first stated, will. cause lateral de llection of the forward end of the airship.

Coming to consideration of the organization ot the propelling means t), the same are organized and mounted to the end that the propeller 1? oil the same may be deflected from its normal position in which it acts to caus direct longitudinal movement of the airship, into downwardly, upwardly and oppositely laterally facing positions in which it may act to depress or elevate the forward end of the airship, or to lel'lcct the airship laterally in either direction from a straight away course. These "ariations of the operative position of the propeller o are produced through the agency of the controlling means 0; and the same comprise an annulus or wh-cel l0 from the forward face of which projects a semicircular frame 41 the cen tral portion of which is formed into a. bear lug tor the shaft 43 of the propeller 6 The annulus is rotatably mounted within an outer annulus 414-, a ball race being provided between the'two annuli as clearly shown in Fig. at 4.5. The outer annulus is priiivided with oppositely projecting elongated bearings, 46 and i7 respectively. T he inner annulus 40 is provided with diametrically opposed interior heads 48 which receive loosely oppositely projecting bearings il-9 upon a ball 50 with opposite portions of the perimeter of which the heads 48 loosely engage so as to be capable of rotation upon the bearings The forward end of the main plane A is provided with a bearing 51 which receives rotatably two interior locking clutch members, 52 and respectively, the clutch memher 53 being connected with or formed upon a power shaft 5 extended. from and actuated by the motive means E. A collar 55 locked to the shaft 54 limits vvforward longitudinal movement of the clutch member The clutch member 52, entering the bearing 51 from the opposite end, carries at its forward end a fixed yoke 56 the arms of which receive rotatably the respective end portions of" hearings 5'7 projecting oppositely from the ball 50 and rectangnlarly with respect to the bearings 49. The power shaft 54 extends rearwardly of the main frame through a suitable bearing 5o and is directly connected with the motor E which may be of the hydro-carbon explosive type or of any other suitable nature.

The elongated bearing ot'the outer annulus 44: is received at its outer end within a segmental keeper 59 forwardly from the forof said hearing having a suitably rotataloly l'langred sleeve (30 acting as a. hearing within the keeper Outwardly of the keeper 59 a collar 61' loosely applied to the hearing l7: and a yoke 62 is pivotally connected with the collar (31; :1 connecting rod 63 on tends from the yoke 62 rearwardly to a. crank arm list the shaft of which is provided with a lever arm 65 mounted upon the main frame adjacent to the'levcr arms 38 and 39; said lever arm 35 carrying a do 66 which co-acls with a toothed sector (ll mounted upon the main frame. Oscillation of the lever arm (55 causes longitudinal. movement of the connecting rod (355 to move the sleeved end of the hearing within the segmental keeper 59, and causes the propeller c to face laterally of the longitudinal medial axis of the main frame. The swinging movement of the bearing 17 last described, which carries with it in such movement the anuuli 4-0 and ll and the hearing 46, together with the bearing" 4-2 of the propeller shaft, is per mitted by the pivotal mounting of the hearing 46 upon bracket 68 which ranges forardly from the forward end of the main frame; the outer end of the bearing 46 being surrounded by, a sleeve 69 having split ends pivotally connected with the bracket 68. as at 70. The outer end of the bearing l6 is provided with a crank arm 70 from which extends rearwardly a connecting rod T1 pivotally connected at its rearward end with a crank arm 72 the shaft of which is tulcrumcd upon a supplemental frame member 12 and is provided with a lever arm 73 provided with a dog 74: which co-acts with a toothed sector 75. Oscillation of the lever arm 73 causes the crank 70 to rock, causing the consequent rockingor oscillation of the bearings 46 and 4'5, the annuli 4:0 and i l and the bearing d2 of the propeller shaft. By this rocking movement the propeller is caused to face downwardly and up,- wardly with respect to the longitudinal central portion 6 of the main plane.

The propeller o is provided with twopart blades, 7 (l77, the parts of the blades being relatively spaced slightly to provide for an air space thercbetween, whereby the thrust area of the propeller is largely increased, altho-ugh its total working zone is slightly greater than necessary for the operation of a propeller having one-part or unitary'blades. The propeller is set to operate in such manner as to impart the power generated thereby in traction upon the main frame and attendant features. 7 The pair or set Kof adjustable Wheeled supports comprises downwardly directed spaced arms 78 connected by a transverse rod 7 9 pivotally connected with supplemental frame members 12, the arms 78 being suitably braced and fitted with wheels 80. Each of the arms 78 is provided with an an gularly rearwardly directed stop finger 81 between the outer end of which and a supplemental frame member 12 extends a contractile spring 82 constituting tension means 70. Each stop finger 81 normally bears against a curved stop 83 upon a supplemensprings 88 constituting the tension means Z:

all in correspondence with the adjustable wheeled supports K and the tension means therefor. The stop fingers87 correspgndingly coact with curved stops 89 upon supplemental frame members. The controlling means at comprise a band brake 90 upon the arm-carrying rod 86, in combination with a flexible connection, such as a rope or cable 91, extending forwardly to a crank arm 92 the shaft of which is journaled upon a supplemental frame member 12 and adjacent to the lever arm 73 and which is provided with a co-acting dog and toothed sector 93 similar to those heretofore described. The controlling means a comprise a band brake 94- applied to the axle of the wheels 85; in combination with a rope, cableor other flexible connection 95 extending over a guide pulley 96 upon a supplemental frame member 12 and thence to a lever arm 97 journaled upon a supplemental frame member 12 adjacent to the lever arm 92 and provided with a coacting dog and toothed sector, the latter of which may be integral with the sector of the dog and sector 93. The dogs and sector 93 are not shown in full detail, but are constructed in accordance with the other similar parts above described.

The aerial brake means P comprise a triangular framework 99 arrangedbeneath the deck B and connected with supplemental frame members 12; said framework 99 having a lateral extent substantially equivalent with that ofthe deck B, which may consist of a flooring 100 directly supporting the member E. An open belt 101 surrounds the triangular framework 99 one side of the lat ter bein arran ed in a substantiall vertical o y plane and facing forwardly of the mam frame; a portion of said open belt being covered by a sheet or apron 102 having a superficial area substantially equivalent to one side or face of the triangular frame. hen normally or inoperativcly positioned the sheetor apron 102 extends above the upper side or face of the frame 99; and is brought into service by the depression of its edge portion forwardly of the forwardly facing side of said frame. To the latter end, the controlling means [2 are employed; and the same consist of a sprocket chain 103 which is trained about a sprocket wheel 10% at one end of a shaft 105 arranged at the lower corner of the triangular framework 99, and about which the belt 101 is trained. The sprocket chain 103 also meshes with a sprocket wheel 106 journaled upon a supplemental frame member 12, adjacent to the lever arm 73, and the shaft of which is provided with a lever arm 107 whereby the sprocket wheels 1041; and 106 may be jointly operated to cause the movement of the belt 101 and the sheet or apron 102 thereon.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improvements in airships constituting the invention will be readily understood from ,the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement The airship is shown in the drawings in assemblage and relative adjustment of parts and features which adapt the same for straightaway flight after elevation from the earth upon which the entirety is supported by the wheels 81 and S5 of the pairs or sets of adjustable supports K and L. -VVhen flight has been initiated, the course taken by the airship may be varied by altering the working relations of one or more of the main features of the construction through the controlling means therewith associated. Through the controlling means c, the propeller 0 may be faced to predetermined degrees upwardly, downwardly or laterally in either direction; and either upward or downward adjustment may be combined with either lateral adjustment for resultant adjustment composite of both manipulations. In adjusting the propeller c to cause the same to face upwardly or downwardly, the bearing 46, together with the bearing 47 and the intermediate parts and features, is rocked through the agency of the crank arm 70. the connecting rod 71 and the lever arm 73. Lateral facing of the propeller c in either direction, is caused through the agency of the connecting rod 63 and the lever arm 65. In whatever plane of rotation the propeller may be located. such rotation is caused by the rotation of the power shaft 54 which in turn rotates the clutch members 52 and 53, the yoke 56, the ball 50 and the heads 18 which receive the bearings 49 upon the ball 50; the bearing 1-2 for the fixed shaft 43 of the propeller being thereby rotated- The said rotation takes place as between the annulus 410 and the annulus 44 which are separated by the ball race The plane 26. of the steering means D on cl centrothe one A throng. ogonoy oif slisitt so coo the. lever arm and solo. plane may be oniolly in ited jlll'fillgllilifi agency oft the sleeve 30 the lever crin lilotli stzitccl stljnstments the plane moy be caused coinioositely through the COil'tl'Ollll moons d inclnrling tliels'vor arms 38 39, so that "the plane 26 moy be cousccl to act as ruclso to the {lip or rise or lsterol clertlecion of the to wsrrl coil oil the air ship, which tleilections from s.-, stmightswoy course may be likewise caused or portiolly prci lncecl by the propeller c in combination with the controlling; means 0, as above (lescribed.

lie iixccl fin or vonc H, consisting of tile guliir upwardly tlircctcil piste 912i, acts to maintain inliercnt stability of the sliig, against oscillation upon the longitudinal inoclicl axis oi the airship; oppos ing sncli latter play or gyrstion under the otlcct of sir pressure upon tilt vzinc cousetl in 'ol oscillation. Lateral stability tlic airship is al o procluceal or partially jllo tlio suipleincntsi Jlsncs l oncl lif in ior direction, or to rock upon o. longitiidinol axis, may be opposed by varying inclination iZ-llfi propei. supplemental plonsthrongh the agency of the respective controlling means ,1 onol 5 anti tho respective lover arm 21 thereof, so that tho sir prcssurc upon such supplemental plane, oioove new ii the some, siicll loo pziiitly incrcosctl or clin inisliccl. Lilcewisc, supplemental "pl nos :inil Ginoy lie sclins cl in SLilJSiiiEir y vertical positions in w li they will i wkvoii to iretzirl cliecl; inrlic sirslii tlici' nioveinc l" plane A, including the side; por- 'tions lstorol extensions and 9., comprise the inoinsustsiningz; surface forniction, the entirc' appiuntus aloft oy translation of ti 3 imp: gcinent oi the sir currents thereupon into supporting energy.- 'lllic :iorwsrcl resrworil movement tho airship may lie cttectively rctsrrlect or choc-keel by the serial broke apron loficsrrieol ioy theopcn ltll winch insy'lic to varying projected clownworclly benecti the, (lock ill so to be. op-

posed to the sir wsli unrl tli'o reorvmriily rushing; sir currents genor ti the prot con-' policy; no. The zit-in oil moons p c to cleternnne the ll'lS- r onion 1093 with Iv to s s s scoot i or nonutiliootion sot some,

'snppo ts, or sets cit til vJ one oirslngo vvnon tho latter ency of the airship to clip lstorslly lotion tin-i sheet or V ly looci' the 0 I i y 'poi ions each of which 1303i varying Width will manifest that nntl yirovicletl. z t; i

springs 82 and 88 will permit the rods 79 and 86 with which the wheel-carrying arms T8 and Eli: are connected to rock. Thus, when the airship is sligliting, the inertia of the descent will be yiclclingly opposed and neutralized by the tension means and Z; the wheeled. supports K and L giving respectively forwardly and rearwardly, as well as downwardly. this rearward and downward yield or give of the wlieelecl supports L may be checked or opposed by the controlling means m consisting of the banal brake 90 and. the lever arm 92 connected with the'same. Likewise, movement of the airship along the ground upon its wheelccl supports may bechecked or retarded by the controlling means it consisting of the bond broke 94 ap plied to the axle of the wheels 85, together with the lever arm 9'? connected with said banal broke it will be notecl that the several controlling means a, d, f, g, m, n, and 39, till include members which are grouped together sub; s'tan'tiolly centrally oi} the airship main flit11l6 in convenient position for manipulattion by the operator who is stationed upon the (lock l8v Thus, the lovers ()5 and 73 of the controlling means a, the levels 38 and 39 01" the controlling means cl, the lever arms 9 1 oi the controlling means f and g the lever srins 9:2 and 97 of the controlling means m and n, snol the lever arin 107 of the controlling means p are all grouped together in positions which enable convenient manipu by the operator of the airship. The Lover arms 92 and 97, and the lever arm 107, are in relatively low positions wherein they may be reached and octuz tecl by the feet of operator.

The airship as organized and constructed, in accordance with the invention, is designed sncl adopted to etliciently ineet utilize and neutralize the various favorable and adverse conditions of service met with in at wide variety of the lttti3l,. l)0lill in starting, flight, and coming to rest upon return totlie earth; and the various leading features of design oncl' construction provide for e cctivecontrol of the airship with respect to course of travel and cment and descent.

it do not desire to lie understood as limiting myself to the specific provision, construo tion, combination, association. and relative arrangement of ports-members and features shown :ond (iescriloed; out reserve the right towory tlie some in" adapting the improveinsnts I0 varying conditions of usefwithout departing from tlie'spirit oi t-lIG iDVQHtlOH v and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus desoriioocl my invention, I cla m snoldesire to secure icy Letters Patent:

it in an airship, s. moi plane comprising olnngitudinol control yortion soil latera widlost portion with a.

lateral extension which increases in width toward its outer edge.

2. In an airship, a main plane comprising a longitudinal central portion and lateral portions each of which is of varying width and provided at its widest portion with a lateral extension which increases in width toward its outer edge; each of said lateral extensions being provided with a movable supplemental plane.

3. In an airship, a main plane, a bearing thereon, a sleeve rotatable in said bearing, a yoke fixed to said sleeve, a supplemental steering plane .pivotally mounted in said yoke, a gear connected with said steering plane, a shaft rotatable in said sleeve, a gear upon said shaft mashing with said gear upon said steering plane; means for rotating said sleeve, and means for rotatin said shaft.

4:. In an airship, a main, plane, a bearing thereon, a sleeve rotatable in said bearing, a yoke fixed to said sleeve, a supplemental steering plane pivotally mounted in said yoke, a gear connected with said steering plane, a shaft rotatable in said sleeve, a gear upon said shaft meshing with said gear upon said steeringplane; means for rotating said sleeve, and means for rotating said shaft; each of said rotating means being provided with a controlling lever, and said levers being arranged in juxtaposition.

5. An airship provided with an adjusta:

bly supported flexible body, and means for presenting varying portions of the superficial area of the same directly in opposition to the air to check the motion of the airship; said' supplemental frame being triangular in form and provided with an endless belt upon which said sheet or apron mounted.

In testimony whereof,.I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VINCENT C, on YBARRONDO.

Witnesses RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE, FRED A. MANSFIELD. 

